Wrestling

Three Storm Wrestlers Advance to Semifinals at NCAA Regional

Matt Vandermeer (Photo by Ryan Baker/Baker Media Productions)

Feb 25, 2012

EDMOND, OKLA. – A trio of grapplers reached the championship bracket semifinals and a total of five members of the Lake Erie College wrestling team are still alive after the first day of the 2012 NCAA Division II Super Regional Two Tournament in Edmund, Okla.

As a team, the Storm is currently seventh of 11 squads with 35 points.

Vargo received a first-round bye as the second-seed at 149 pounds and then won an 8-0 major decision over Nick Sgroi of Belmont Abbey College. Vandermeer, the top seed at 165 pounds, picked up a 16-0 technical fall of Truman University's Joshua Wells and Linden picked up a 5-2 upset of fourth-seeded Kurt Schaefer of Ashland University at 184 pounds to reach the final four round.

The other Storm wrestlers still in contention are freshmen Austin Gillihan (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) and Ian Ross (Newark, N.Y./Newark) at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. Each bounced back from a loss in their first match with a victory in the consolation bracket.

The event host, the University of Central Oklahoma, currently leads the team standings with 73 points, 10 ahead of King College.